by cjxpadmin | Jul 10, 2013 | Job Club Heart of Texas
A smile is just a small part of being pleasant. Greeting people when you walk into a room, or opening doors for people regardless of gender are just some of the many ways to be pleasant. Saying a polite thank you when someone passes you a sheet of paper. Having manners is something that stands out regardless of where you are. By being polite or having a smile you can unknowingly brighten someone’s day. Never underestimate the value of being pleasant. It shows through your actions, and carries over into your interviews. Employers can sense when someone is going to be good to their customers. They know when a future employee has what it takes to do the job they are being hired for. Coming into an interview with the frustration and anger that may have colored your last job will only hinder the progress you are tying to make. Take a deep breath and let it go. There is no past situation worth you losing your future job over. It’s done with and it’s time to look a head! So put on a smile, and watch the doors it opens for you!
Also!
On July 19th we will be having another Applicant RoundUp from 10am-2pm at The Hampton Inn on Marketplace Drive in Waco, Texas. This will feature prescreening and referrals for available jobs throughout the Waco area. If you would like to be scheduled for this event email us at info@campusjobxpress.com. Keep an eye on all following posts for job positions.
If you are interested in being prescreened for jobs hiring in and around the Waco area email us NOW at info@campusjobxpress.com and make you appointment for July 19th between 10AM and 2PM at The Hampton Inn and Suites on Marketplace Dr.
by cjxpadmin | Jul 2, 2013 | Uncategorized
By C’Mone Collins
In the past, if you used a typical paper resume, you were seen as professional, but now, everyone has one. So what could you use to make yourself stand out from the crowd? What can you do to show off your great personality? What tool can you use to get an edge or stay ahead of other candidates? Well, we have a solution. It’s called a Video Resume. 
A Video Resume is the latest tool of technology available to job seekers. You simply record yourself talking about what makes you the perfect candidate for that particular job you are applying for. As we mentioned above, it gives the employer a chance to see what your personality is really like, something they wouldn’t be able to get from a piece of paper. But one question that some of you may be asking is, “Will the employer even open my video?” Well, in a recent internet article, entitled Do Employers Want Video Resumes? statistics show that “although most employers have not yet used this new technology as an evaluative tool, 89% of employers revealed that they would watch a video resume, should it be submitted to them.”
Another question that may have you nervous for submitting a video resume is if they even like the idea of a video resume. According to the same article, employers do like videos because it gives them “the ability to assess a candidate’s professional presentation and demeanor.” So it really is looking like video resumes are getting some pretty positive reviews.
There is one huge drawback to the video resume and that one thing is: unprofessionalism. And that goes from how you talk and present yourself in the video, to the way that you dress and conduct yourself. Many of the employers are receiving fairly unprofessional videos which turns them off to a potential candidate. This is where the lesson on interviews comes in handy. You have to imagine that while making the video, you are actually speaking to the employer, because the employer IS going to see it. If you wouldn’t wear something to an actual interview, then don’t wear it in 
the video.
You also need to speak clearly and take the video seriously, but don’t feel afraid to let your personality come out, because that is one of the main reasons for this video. As another matter of concern, “the other current employer complaint is the length of the video.” That is why we stress that your video should be 1 minute or less, you want it to be short and sweet. You don’t want to bore the employer, you’re not making a full length documentary, just a super short film discussing your qualifications.
For those applicants from out-of-town or out-of-state who are applying for a job, a video resume comes in very handy. This would eliminate travel and time lost as well as allow the employer to screen many more applicants.
With this knowledge at hand and all these tips available, you should make one smashing video. Have a great time with it and “Good luck!” △
Resources: About.com Human Resources, Video Resumes, Do Employers Want Video Resumes? by Susan M. Heathfield
by cjxpadmin | Jul 2, 2013 | Job Club Heart of Texas
If you are interested in being prescreened for jobs hiring in and around the Waco area email us NOW at info@campusjobxpress.com and make you appointment for July 19th between 10AM and 2PM at The Hampton Inn and Suites on Marketplace Dr.
by cjxpadmin | Jul 1, 2013 | This Issue's FEATURE
By Sheena Williams
In an earlier issue, we discussed ensuring that your soft skills were on point when you start applying for jobs. For those of you who are not sure what a soft skill is, a soft skill is a skill that you have that isn’t technically something you can vocalize on your resume. For instance, things such as being on time, being dependable, and being resourceful.
The problem lies in knowing where the strengths of your soft skills lie and what they are. We’ve broken them down here to give you a good idea of how to at least go about finding your soft skills and knowing which ones you should develop.
Emotional: Emotional soft skills include things such as being enthusiastic, positive, and outgoing. No one is saying that you have to hop around like a cheerleader on speed, but we are saying that it’s a good idea to develop skills that make people want to work with you. A smile can go a long way. Even if you are having a bad day, your positive attitude will make a world of difference when interacting with employees and clients.
How You Look: Should it matter how you look if you do your job and do it well? Yes, and here’s why. Your company is either 
selling a product or a service. And to do either of those, they need to have people who the public can trust. Would you give your investment money to a banker or to someone who had their pants around their ankles and wearing shirts 8 sizes too large for them? Of course not, and no one expects you to. You are not only selling the service or product, you are selling yourself as someone who is knowledgeable about the product or service you are selling. If you are not able to present yourself, how do you expect to present your product?
Political: We aren’t talking about picketing or showing up at various events. We are talking about your ability to stay out of the politics that run rampant in any work place. You have to walk a fine line between being interested in what’s going on in the company and being too interested in what’s going on in the company. Tact is your friend and it’s a skill you should hone to perfection. Know the difference between helping out and being taken advantage of. These are key things that you are going to have to develop to survive in any place of business.
Negative Emotions: There are some days it just can’t be avoided. However, it’s how you handle your emotions that will tell you who is going to win the race. You are not always going to be put into ideal situations at work. We all have bad days. The trick is to not let it affect your work. Go in, square your shoulders and get started. If you get into a work routine, the day will take care of itself. If you’re having to reprimand someone as part of management, screaming at your employees is not acceptable in any work situation. This not only opens you up to legal problems, it opens the company up for them as well. Your job in any situation is to turn that bad situation into an ideal situation. Consider paring criticism with encouragement. Try it!
The Job You Do: Yes, you know how to lift 50 pounds, work 80 different software programs, and you climbed Mount St. Helens when you were 6. But can you do the job that is being asked of you? The words on your resume may be super and fantastic, but if your quality of work is lacking, you won’t be there for long. It’s fine and dandy to know the program that you are using at work, but do you know it well enough to produce results? What is your follow through like? Do you complete projects that you are given? Are you a perfectionist? When you do that presentation or speak to someone just off the street, do you sound like you know what you’re talking about? Is your work quality in line? If you’re using welding tools, are all the safety points being considered? That PowerPoint presentation you submitted recently, is everything spelled correctly? You are not only being judged by how you look, but by the type of work you are producing. Make sure that yours is worth remembering. 
Soft skills are skills that are often overlooked when applying for, or even when you are on the job. They are skills that can greatly impact your work experience. They cannot only take you to the next level when developed properly but they can also keep you back when they aren’t. Make your soft skills work for you! △
by cjxpadmin | Jul 1, 2013 | This Issue's FEATURE
By Sheena Williams
Losing a job is something we’ve all had to face at one time or another. Whether you’ve been working for 30 years, 3 years, or 3 months, we have all found ourselves without work. The worst thing that you can do is give in to depression and/or panic when starting your job search. We have a list of things that you can do starting today that will keep you occupied and job-ready while you wait for your ship to come in.
Volunteer: I know that it seems counterintuitive to help others while you feel you are the one who needs help. But helping others
does a few things for you. #1, it allows you to network. Someone you are either helping or working with may know of a position that you are suitably qualified for, and this puts you in the spotlight because they can see how hard you are working. #2, it will take your mind off of your present problems. Sometimes seeing the other side of a situation and knowing that it could be a lot worst puts your life into perspective. #3, it will give you that warm fuzzy feeling…and skills that you can put on your resume. Hey, we said volunteer, not to get anything out of it!
Organization: Now would be a perfect time for you to start organizing your home. Not only will you feel better about yourself, you will have everything you need to get your job of job searching done right 
there at your fingertips. Doing two to three household chores a day will lighten your mood and give you a sense of accomplishment. One of the things you will miss the most about your job is having that reason to get up and get out of bed in the morning. By giving yourself things to do, you are supplying that need while getting a lot done.
Organize Your Job Search: You know that your first order of business is to find a job as soon as possible. Know what would make that easier? A plan! Do you know what kind of job you’re seeking? Have you had your resume worked on or looked over? Do you have all of the addresses and phone numbers you need to fill out any important forms? A lot of times, we miss job opportunities because we are not diligent with the things that we need to have done. It behooves all of us to have those things ready at a moment’s notice. Do you have business cards? Well, maybe it’s time you have some done. Most office supply stores offer really affordable business cards or look online for some great deals. Do you have a cover letter? No time like the present for creating one. You’re applying to that company… do you know anything about it? Well, maybe it’s about time you read up on it! These are all things that you can do to help yourself prepare to get the job of your dreams!
Networking: You may not be outgoing, but putting the word out to your family and friends is an absolute must! Maybe they know
someone who is hiring, or maybe they know someone who is having a party that you can attend. Oh, look! while at the party, you meet a guy who is looking for good people like yourself to hire! You didn’t want to be the parent that took your child to the birthday party, but since you’re there, you might as well have a chat with Bethany’s mom. She knows a lot of people and she may know your next employer! There are so many people who have gotten jobs due to word of mouth. It is the fastest way of getting anything done. By the time anything is published in a newspaper, magazine or even online, you can bet that people who work there are already telling their family and friends about the open positions at this awesome place where they work.
The biggest thing that we can tell you to do when you are job searching is to keep your head up. Cry if you need to, but once you’re done, it’s time to get down to business. Easier said than done, right? But sometimes, you have responsibilities to take care of that require you to give your job search your full attention. Just keep yourself distracted from the bad and keep heading toward the good. △
